Number 16 (spider)
A Gaius villosus specimen in the Australian Museum. | |
| Species | Gaius villosus |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 1972 or 1973 North Bungulla Reserve, Western Australia |
| Died | 2016 (aged about 43) North Bungulla Reserve, Western Australia |
| Known for | Subject of long-term monitoring project; oldest known spider |
Number 16 (c. 1974 – 2016), also known as #16, was a wild female trapdoor spider (Gaius villosus, family Idiopidae) that lived in North Bungulla Reserve near Tammin, Western Australia. She lived an estimated 43 years and became the longest-lived spider on record, beating a 28-year-old tarantula who previously held the title. Number 16 died in 2016 from a parasitic wasp sting.